adlam



Feb. 20, 1945. T. N. ADLAM STEAM AND WATER MIXING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original, Filed June 20, 1942 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY T. N. ADLAM Re. 22,603

I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 STEAM AND WATER MIXING DEVICE Original Filed June 20, 1942 Feb. 20, 1945.

Feb. 20, 1945. TEN. ADLAM STEAM AND WATER MIXING DEVICE 5 Shets-Sheet 5 I Original Filed June 20, 1942 W1 ::w..............y..............:. n

Reissued Feb. 7

7 22.00: s'raam AND warm mimic nuv rca Thomas Napier Adiam, west Orange, N. 1., as-. slgnor to Saree Company; Inc., New York, N. Y... a corporation of New York Original No. 2,335,250. dated November :0, i943, Serial No. 447,754, June 20,1942. Application for reissue November This invention relates to thermostatically controlled devices for mixing steam and water so as to provide a supply of hotwater at a substantially constant predetermined temperature. and the invention has particular reference to a device of s the indicated character, including means for shut ting oi! and maintaining the steam supply closed when the water supply is closed so as'to prevent Y the delivery ofsteam onscalding hot water in the event of failure of the'coldwater supp and'to i avoid rupture of the thermostatic element by overheating the same; j

The invention comprehends a mixing device of the aforesaid character which includes steam and water supply valves. for admitting steam and 15 water to a mixing chamber in which is arranged thermostatic means connected with the steam supply valve for regulating the flow of steam to the mixing chamber so as to provide a supply of hot water at a. substantially constant temperature in accordance with a predetermined temperature setting of the thermostatic means and means actuated by the pressure diiierential on opposite sides of the water supply valve for shut-. ting oil the flow of steam to the mixing chamber when the water supply valve closes and for maintaining the steam supply in closed relation when the water supply is closed.

Another object in. view is the provision of means located within the mixing chamber for diffusing and breaking up the steam into finely divided sprays as the same is fed into the said v chamber so as to rapidly mix and blend with the water for quickly heating the same.

A further object of the invention resides in disposing the said thermostatic means within the mixing chamber at the opposite end from the steam and water inlets with the free end portion of said means surrounded by a tubular baiile so as to prevent contact of the steam and water there- 40 with as the same enter the mixing chamber and which bailie defines within the mixing chamber a circuitous passageway for the hot water which causes the same to contact with the said thermostatic means at the end of the .chamber remote 1 from the said steam and water inlets. I V

with the foregoing and other objects in view,

reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which there is illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a thermostatically controlled steam and water mixingdevice constructed in accordance with the inventlon.-

"a Claims. (c1. 23e12) 22, 1944. Serial No.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the water supply valve.

v Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through-the casing defining the mixing chamber.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the steam diffusing element taken lip-'- proximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged side view of w the 'diflusing element.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view throug the auxiliary diaphragm valve. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side viewof the thermostatic means with parts broken away and shown in section and showing thef'same .connected with the steam supply valve which is shown in section. r

Fig; 8 is a sectional view through the steam supply valve taken approximately on the line 0 g 8-8 of Fig. 'I. 7

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference-the mixing device includes a casing in defining a mixing chamber II and having steam and water inlets l2 and I! opening into the mixing chamber and which are connected the'requirement for hot water and the said supplyrvalve' i6 is also controlled by an-auflliary diaphragm valve ill-connected with the'water supply on opposite sides of the valve element ofthe water'supply valve for shutting oil and maintaining the steam supply closed when the water supply is closed so as to prevent the delivery of steam or scalding hot water in the event of failure of the cold water supply and to avoid rupture of the thermostatic element by overheating the same.

The steam supply valve includes a valve bodyprovided with inletland outlet openings II and 22 and having a valve port I: which defines a valve seat 24 and mounted'for movement towards and away from said seat is a valve' disk 25 carried by a valve stem 28 having its free end protruding through a guide opening 21 in the valve body. The valve disk 2! is normally maintained in closed relation upon the valve seat 24 with the said valve port. The valve disk 2I-is moved awayfrom the valve seat 24 against the action of the spring 26 by the movement of 9, diaphragm 3| located in a chamber 32 of a diaphragm head 33 threadedly connected with a tubular extension 34 of the valve body.

The diaphragm 3| divides the chamber 32 into upper and lower compartments 35 and 35, the upper compartment 35 communicating with a central bore 31 in axial alignment with the valve port 23, and located in said bore for longitudinal reciprocatory movement is a spindle 36 interposed between the free end of the valve stem 26 and the upper face of the diaphragm 3|. A coiled expansion spring 36 surrounds the spindle 36 and is disposed between the headed outer end ll of the spindle and a bearing plug 42 through which the inner end of the spindle projects and which spring maintains the head ll of the spindle in engagement with the diaphragm 3|.

The outer compartment 36 has communication with the steam supply on the inlet side of the valve port 23 through a conduit 43 threadedly engaged in openings. and 45 leading respectively to said compartment 38 and to a chamber 46 formed in a tubular boss 41 of the valve bodyand which chamber opens into said steam supply through a needle valve 43. 36 also communicates with the outlet side of the valve port 23 through a vent passage 39. The needle valve 43 is controlled by the thermostatic means I3 to admit steam into the chamber 46 and thence into, the compartment 36 through the conduit 43 for forcing the diaphragm 3| upwardly thereby moving the spindle 33 into-engagement with the valve stem 26 so as to raise The chamber body. The valve ports 56 and 31 are controlled by a double faced valve element 53 secured to the upper end of a valve stem 60 mounted for reciprocatory movement to thereby move the saidvalve element towards'and away from the valve ports 56 and respectively. A coiled expansion spring 6| interposed between the cap 62 of the auxiliary valve body and the peripheral flange 53 of the valve element 53 maintains the lower end of the stem 66 in seated engagement with the diaphragm 64 in the diaphragm head 65 carried by the auxiliary valve body.

The diaphragm 64 is disposed in a chamberil in the said head 65 and divides the said chamber into upper and lower compartments 68 and 59, the upper compartment 68 being in communication by means of piping 10 with the inlet side of the water supply valve I1 and the lower compartment 69 being in communication with the outlet side of the water supply valve by means of piping ll. A coiled expansion spring 12 is arranged in the lower compartment 69 between the underside of the diaphragm 64 and the lower end of the diaphragm head 65. Thesaid spring 12 exerts a tension on the diaphragm'Bl in opposition to the spring6l and in opposition to the water pressure in the upper compartment 68 conthe valve disk 25 from its seat. Upon the functiming of the thermostatic means ill to close the needle valve 38, the steam pressure in the chamber 48 is dissipated through the vent passage 49 and the steam pressure in the compartment 36 is dissipated through the auxiliary valve 23 as hereinafter explained, thus permitting retraction of the diaphragm 3l by the expansion spring 38 and the movement of the valve disk 25 towards its seat by the action of the spring 28.

The water supply valve I1 is of the adjustable check valve type and admits water to the mixing chamber ll through a valve port 56, the valve spring 5| thereof functioning to move the valve disk 52 to close the said port when the pressure on. the outlet side of the said port equals the pressure on the inlet side thereof.

' In order to automatically shutofl the supply of steam to the mixing chamber from the steam supply valve l6 when the water supply valve l1 closes and to maintain the steam supply valve in closed relation when the water supplyvalve is closed, the auxiliary diaphragm valve 20 is interposed in the conduit line 33, the upper section thereof leading from .the chamber 46 to the inlet 54 in the auxiliary diaphragm valve 26 and the lower section of said conduit leading from the outlet 55 of the said auxiliary diaphragm valve to the lower compartment-36 of the dia- I ing chamber.

nected with the inlet side of the water supply .valve ll.

The upper and lower compartments 63 and 69 being thus filled with water under pressure from the opposite sides of the valve port 50 of the water supply valve [1, the diaphragm 64 between said compartments will be moved in accordance with the pressure exerted on opposite sides thereof. Thus when the valve disk 52 is in closed relation upon the-valve port 50, the water pressure on opposite sides of the said valve port and on the opposite sides of the diaphragm 64 will be substantially equal so that the spring 12 functions to move the diaphragm 64 to close the valve port 56 to thereby shut oil the flow of steam through the conduit 43 leading to the lower compartment 36 of the steam supply valve I6 and thus effect a closing of the valve port 23 thereof and a shutting ofi of the flow of steam to the mix- When hot water is drawn from the mixing chamber which efiects a reduction of pressure in the water on the outlet side of the water supply valve l1, a corresponding reduction inpressure takes place in the lower compartment 69 of the diaphragm head of the auxiliary valve 20 to thereby move the diaphragm 64 downwardly against the action of the spring 12 which, in this instance, serves as a buffer against the greater water pressure exerted above the diaphragm. The downward movement of the diaphragm 64 permits the spring 6| to move the valve element 59 downwardly so as to open the valve port 56 thus allowing the flow of steam pressure through the conduit 43 and into the lower compartment 36 of the steam supply valve l5, thus moving the diaphragm 3| thereof upwardly and the valve disk 25 away from the valve port 23 so as to open the said port for the passage of steam through the said supply valve I6 of. the port I1 will be in open relation to permit of the venting of the steam pressure in the'lower.

compartment ll of the diaphragm head 33 of the steam supply valve It through the said valve port I! and thence through the relief outlet 14 to the outlet side of the steam supply valve- II. when the inlet port I! of the auxiliary diaphragm valve II is opened, the valve element 59 closes the valve port I! to prevent steam pressure being dissipated through the relief port 14.

The thermostatic element l9 includes a valve plunger. 1! which is mounted in a bushing ll threadedly engaged in the tubular boss 41 of the valve body for reciprocatory movement towards and away from the needle valve I and which plunger is provided with a conical shaped free end is adapted to engage the seat of the needle valve is for closingthe same. The valve plunger it is provided with a collar and interposed between the collar and the inner end of the needle valve in surrounding relation with the protruding end of the plunger It is a coiled expansion spring til which functions to normally retain the plunger in retracted position out of engagement with the valve seat.

The valve plunger I8 is projected into engagement with the valve seat of the needle valve 48 by means of the expansion of a thermal fluid act ing upon a piston head ll carried by a piston rod I! which rod protrudes through the aperture II in the head ll of a tubular shell 85 soas to dispose'the free end of the said rod in axial align-- ment with the plunger 16 for engagement with the outer end thereof.

Located within the tubular shell 85 in spaced relation thereto is an 'expansible and contractible tube 86 secured at one end to the head ll of the said tubular shell 8! and at its opposite end to the piston head it which provides a sealing means enclosing the piston rod 82.

The tubular shell 85 is in communication through a conduit 81 with a thermostatic element consisting of a control bulb 88 and a regulating head 89 and the said element is secured in an opening 9| in the lower end of the casing ii to dispose the control bulb B8 in inwardly proiecting relation in the lower-end of the mixing chamber. The control bulb It includes a tubular shell 9| having a closed free end 92 and an aperture dinner end 93 to which is secured an expansiblev and contractile sealing tube. 94 arranged within the shell in spaced relationw'ith the wall thereof and having its free end closed by a head 95 to which is secured an adjusting rod so located within the sealing tube as and projecting through the aperture 91 in the inner end 93.

The regulating head I! of the thermostatic element is provided with a relief spring II which is rod ll longitudinally of the tubular shell 9| so as to extend or contract the sealing tube 94 to thereby vary the space between the free end of the shell Sland the head 95 of the sealing tube 94.

The space between the sealing tube 86 and the tubular shell 85, as well as the conduit 81, and the space between the sealing tube 9! and the tubular shell ll, being filled with the thermal fluid, any increase or decrease .in the temperature of the mixed water in the mixing chamber II will effects corresponding expansion or contraction of the thermal fluid to thereby control the needle valve ll so as to regulate the admission of steam into the mixing chamber through thesteam supply valve It to thereby provide a .5 continuous supply of hot water at the discharge outlet I 8 of the mixing chamber at a substantially constant temperature in accordance with a predetermined temperature setting of the adjusting screw 89.

The casing I0 is provided with a tubular baflie I02 'threadedly engaged at its upper end in an opening "I! in a partition llil surrounding the discharge outlet It and which baiiie depends in surrounding relation with the major portion of the control bulb 88 so asto prevent contact of the steam and water. therewith as the same enter the mixing chamber, the baflle further defining within the mixing chamber a circuitous passageway for the hot water which causes the water to contact with the control bulb 88 at the end of the mixing chamber remote from the steam and water inlet. Thetubular shell 9| is provided with a deflector lfll extending spirally about the outer face thereof adjacent the lower end of the tubular baiiie iill for imparting a swirling motion to the hot water as the same passes through the tubular baiiie so as to more evenly heat the tubular shell '91. i

Steam from the steam supply valve lli enters the mixing chamber ll through a valve port iill in the upper end thereof which is closed by a valve disk I08 carried by a valve rod I09. The said valve rod is slidable in a guide opening in a spider iii) of a nipple ill threadedly'engaged in i the lower end of a tubular skirt 2 surrounding the valve port I01. A coiled expansible spring H3 disposed between the valve disk iilfl and the spider H0 in surrounding relation to the valve rod I09 functions to normally maintain the valve i." disk in closed relation.

In order to provide means'for diffusing and breaking up the steam into fine sprays as the same is mixed with the water in the mixing chamber, aseries of apertured disks H5 are closed lower end Ill and removably secured thereto is a clamping washer I i 8 impinged against the lowermost disk M5 for securing the disk in stacked formation on the core between the nipple i ll and'the said clamping washer.

The tubular core H6 is formed with circumferentiallyspaced longitudinally extending slots H9 and each alternate disk is provided with circumferentially spaced radially extending flutes defining on the opposite faces thereof steam outlet, passages I20 which are preferably of a few thousandths of an inch in depth. 1

It is to be understood that the steam and water supply valves II and I1 and the auxiliary valve 20 may be set to accommodate steam and water at any desired relative pressures, the steam pressure being. sufficiently in excess of the water pressure to' effect rapid mixing of the'steam with the water and a corresponding rapid heating of I the water so that a continuous supply of hot water at a predetermined temperature may be withdrawn from the mixing device.

It willalso be apparent from the foregoing that the steam supply valve i8 is maintained in closed relation when the water supply valve I1 is closed and during any failure of the water supply the spring]! functions to close the auxiliary valve 75 III to thereby close the steam supply valve and cut 05 the flow oi steam to the mixing chamber. The shutting oil! of the delivery of steam to the mixing chamber when the flow of water thereto has been cut ofl prevents the delivery of steam or scalding hot water from the mixing chamber which would scald or injure a person using the same and which also prevents rupture of the thermostatice element by the overheating thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for mixing steam and water to provide a hot water supply, a casing providinga mixing chamber and having steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and closing of ports through which steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having steam pressure actuated means for'moving the valve element thereof in one direction, thermostatic means for'controlling the supply of steam to said steam pressure actuated means to thereby control the steam supply valve so as to regulate the flow of steam to the mixing chamber, and means connected with the water supply on opposite sides of the valve element or the water supply valvefor controlling the said steam pressure actuated means by the pres sure differential on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for maintaining the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed.

2. In a device for mixing steam and water to provide a hot water supply, a casing providing a mixing chamber and having steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valveshaving movable valve elements for regulating the opening and closing of ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having'a diaphragm and means associated therewith engaging th valve element of the steam supply valve for moving the same in response to the movement of the diaphragm, said diaphragm being movedin one direction by steam pressure froni'the steam supply line, thermostatic means for controlling the flow of steam to said diaphragm from said steam supply line to thereby control the steam supply valve so-as to regulate the flow of steam to the mixing chamber, and means connected with the water supply on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for controlling the flow of steam to said diaphragm by the pressure differential on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve to thereby maintain the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed. 3. In a device of the indicated character, a casing providing a mixing chamber and having valve elements for regulating the opening and steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable closingof ports through which steam and water i pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply-valve having a diaphragm and meansyassoclated therewith engaging the valve element or saidsteam supply valve for moving the same in response to the movement of the diaphragm, an auxiliary steam line connected with the inlet side of said steam supply valve for admitting steam pressure to the diaphragm for moving the same in one direction, thermostatic means for regulating the flow of steam through said auxiliary steam line to thereby regulate the flow oi. steam to the mixing chamber, an auxiliary valve having a valve element interposed in said sauce auxiliary steam lineiand means connected with the water supply on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for controlling the valve element of said auxiliary valve to thereby shut oil the flow of steam to the diaphragm or the steam supply valve when the water supply valve is closed so as to maintain the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed.

4. In a device of the indicated character, a casing providing a mixing chamber and having steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and closing of ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having a diaphragm and means associated therewith engaging the valve element of saidsteam supply valve for moving the same in response to the movement of the diaphragm, an auxiliary steam line connected with the inlet side of said steam supply valve for admitting steam pressure to the diaphragm for moving the same in one direction, an auxiliary valve having a valve element interposed in said auxiliary steam line, and means connected with the water supply on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for controlling the valve element of said auxiliary valve to thereby shut oil the llow oi steam to the diaphragm of the steam supply valve when-the water supply valve is closed so as to maintain the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed.

5. In a device of the indicated character, a casing providing a mixing chamber and having steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and closing of ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having a diaphragm and means associated therewith engaging the valve element of said steam supply valve for moving the same in response tothe movement of the diaphragm, an auxiliary steam line connected with the inlet side of said steam supply valvefor admitting steam pressure to the diaphragm for moving the same in one direction, an auxiliary valve having a valve element interposed in said auxiliary steam line, said auxiliary valve having a diaphragm and means associated therewith engaging the valve element thereof for moving the same in response to the movement of the diaphragm, and conduits connected with the water supply on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve and establishing communication-with the opposite sides of the diaphragm valve for moving the diaphragm thereof in response to pressure differential in the water on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve to thereby close said auxiliary steam line when the water supply valve is closed so as to maintain the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed.

6. In a device of the indicated character, a casing providing a mixing chamber and having steamv and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and closing of the ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having pressure actuated means for moving the valve element thereof in one direction, an auxiliary steam line connected with the inlet side of said steam supply of the auxiliary valve for. controlling the said pressure actuated means, an auxiliary valve'having a valve element interposed in said auxiliary steam. line, and

means connected with the water supply on op: posite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for controlling the valve element of said auxiliary valve to thereby shut oi! the flow of steam in the auxiliary steamline by'the.

puressure ,difierential on opposite sides of the valve element or the water supply valve ior maintaining the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed.

7. In a device for mixing steam and water to provide a hot water supply, a casing providing a mixing chamber and having steam and water,

inletsand a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and closing of ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having steam pressure actuated means for moving the valve element thereof in one direction, the supply of steam to said steam pressure actuated means to thereby control the steam supply valve so as to regulate the flow of steam thermostatic means for controlling a a a s tothe mixing chamber,-and means connected with the water supply for controlling the said steam pressure actuated means by the pressure differential on opposite sides or the valve element at the water supply valve for maintaining the steam supply valve closed when the water;

supply valve is closed.

8. In a device for mixing steam and water to provide a hot water supply, a casing providing a mixing chamber and, having steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and-closing of ports through which thesteam and water pass re- ,spectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having steam pressure actuated means for moving the valve element thereof in one direction, and means connected with the water supply for controlling the said steam pressure actuated means by the pressure differential on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for maintaining the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed. v

THOMAS NAPIER ,ADLAM. 

